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"Tomb Raider": The Hit That Became Core Design's Downfall
Software1 min read
This article looks back at Tomb Raider, a 1996 game from the British studio Core Design. It became a big hit and changed how 3D action-adventure games were made.
What happened
Core Design was a small British studio in Derby. It first made clever 2D games and later 3D racing and flying games. Then it made Tomb Raider, a 3D game that follows a hero from behind. The game came out 30 years ago and is now seen as a milestone.
Why the hero is a woman
Designer Toby Gard and programmer Paul Douglas loved the old game Prince of Persia. They wanted its graceful movement and exploration in a 3D world. Gard was tired of the usual macho heroes, so he made a female lead. First called Laura Cruz, she was later renamed Lara Croft to fit her British upper-class background.
Key facts
- Core Design was founded in 1988 in Derby, England.
- Tomb Raider first came out in October 1996 on Sega's Saturn console.
- It also came out on PCs and the first PlayStation soon after.
- The game has 15 large levels.
Why it matters
Tomb Raider showed that 3D games with a camera behind the hero could work well. Before this, many such games had poor controls. The game also gave players a strong female hero at a time when most heroes were men.
Glossary
- Core Design
- A British game studio that made Tomb Raider and other games in the 1990s.
- Tomb Raider
- A 1996 action-adventure game about the explorer Lara Croft.
- Prince of Persia
- A 1989 platform game known for its smooth, acrobatic movement.
- Saturn
- A video game console made by Sega.